Protesters take to street, question police shooting of Joseph Han
Easter Shooting
About 60 demonstrators took to the street in front of Folsom City Hall and the police station along Natoma Street on Wednesday. They were gathered to protest the Easter morning police shooting of 23-year-old Joseph Han. "I raised him," said neighbor Ali Chinnow. "I was like his second mom. He was my boy. His mom is like my sister." She said the Han family is devastated. The protesters wore white t-shirts emblazoned with black letters which read "Black Lotus Boards" and "In loving memory of Joseph Seung Han, Aug. 6, 1985-April 12, 2009." Relative Tim Cho said the shirts are based on the logo of the skateboarding business his cousin was starting. "(Joseph) was passionate about skateboarding," he said. "He took out a loan and was buying materials and designing boards. It was his brand and everything. Unfortunately, he was unable to finish." Officers arrived at the Han house on Easter Sunday morning at the request of the family who say he had not eaten in three days and was possibly hallucinating. Officers used a stun gun on Han, but according to officers, it had no effect. Han reportedly brandished a knife that police say measured 8 inches. When Han allegedly refused officers' orders to drop the knife, they opened fire and he was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital. According to the Folsom Police Department, they claim Han was acting in an aggressive and threatening manner. Longtime friend Kevin Garvin believes the shooting was not justified. "I've known him since middle school," Garvin said. "I actually spoke with him the Friday before the incident. I believe the police overreacted." The family has retained Oakland Attorney John Burris. "I specialize in police misconduct cases," he said. Burris recently represented the family of a young man who was shot to death by police officers at a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station. "I have requested police reports and coroner's reports (for the Han case), which I have not received," he said. "The question is ... whether police used excessive force. I need to have all the information before I (decide) whether a lawsuit should be filed." The police officers involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. Folsom Police Sgt. Rick Hillman said the protest had been peaceful as of 5 p.m. "We want them to be able to safely come out here and exercise their right to assembly," Hillman said. "We appreciate that they called us ahead of time and told us it's a peaceful demonstration." The internal police investigation identified the two officers involved in the shooting at 32-year-old Officer Paul Barber and 57-year-old Sgt. Ron Peterson, a 27-year veteran of the force. Barber has been a law enforcement officer for seven years, according to the Folsom Police Department. The local police investigation has been turned over to the District Attorney's office. Related items: Images of the protest Related stories: Cops or doc? Who would you call?, Shooting prompts questions, Police shoot knife-wielding man
|
Change Location:
|
My heart goes out to the police officers who will have to live with the pain of being put in a position of having to use leathal force. Had the suspect not chosen to attack police with a knife clearly capable of gutting someone, then the police would not have had to exercise such force. The real question should be focused back on the suspect and his family...what was wrong with this guy, was he insane, all hopped up on drugs or both and why did the family take so long to react?
Could the family have taken him to a mental hospital and avoided this entire situation? Maybe, but we will never know.
The police are trained to deal with mentals and folks all spun out on dope but in the end must ensure that they return home safe to their families and not stand by and be disembowel or have their throats slashed.
In this litigous world we inhabit, the family and their attorney will sue the City, the Police Department, the Officers and anyone else that they can tie to the tragic events of that Easter morning. Ultimately we have not placed blame where it is due, on the party most responsible for the fatality, Mr. Han.
I feel for the family, and I do believe that the officers used excessive force and I will always believe that, This particular department should be fully investigated. I have never heard of a police department with such a horrible back ground. 5 police officers arrested in the last 6 years for wrong doing is outrageous! From theft to DUI's and assult,,,, I think that with the back ground of this department this really should be fully investigated. Using the term GUTTING SOMEONE is so outrageous. He got shot in the leg that was enough to stop him they did not need to kill him!!! Like I have said before they are mostly young and undertrained. And I pray that justice will be served and that those officers do not return to the street!!
"ProFamily"?????????
I am waiting for the drug test. I suspect Methamphetamine or some other such drug was leading him not to eat or sleep, burn out his brain cells, and then threaten the cops with a knife.
--------
Officers arrived at the Han house on Easter Sunday morning at the request of the family who say he had not eaten in three days and was possibly hallucinating. Concerned for his safety, the family called the Folsom Police Department.
Officers used a stun gun on Han, but according to officers, it had no effect. Han reportedly brandished a knife that police say measured 8 inches.
----------
Officers used a stun gun on Han, but according to officers, it had no effect.
-----------------
Han reportedly brandished a knife that police say measured 8 inches.
----------
For those who think legalization of drugs is a good thing, here is a reason why its not.
This is a sad statement about our current social climate. How did we get here?
They don’t really say whether or not Han was approaching the officers. Was he standing there with the knife or was he attacking the officers?
Look up 'Tueller Drill'.
Completely appropriate response. It's a tough world out there. Wear a helmet.
The police did the right thing, if i was a cop and someone was coming at me with a knife i would have shot him too. Totally justified shooting, the family shouldn't have called the police. The police aren't therapists or anything else like that.
It sucks he died but he shouldn't have made the choice to threaten someone with a gun.
Thank you, Patrick50, for asking for more info before jumping to conclusions. "Han reportedly brandished a knife...", does not indicate that anyone was actually in danger of imminent harm. Was lethal force really necessary? Brandish is defined as "to shake or wave, as a weapon; to flourish". This shooting may or may not have been the right call in this situation. The AJ does not give us the whole story (any surprise there?).
rat_stink says: "I am waiting for the drug test. I suspect Methamphetamine or some other such drug..."., then goes on to say, "For those who think legalization of drugs is a good thing, here is a reason why its not". A) You're not really "...waiting for the drug test.", as you have already decided that drugs were involved, and B) Please name ONE person of any political stature who has called for the legalization of meth. In your black/white world all "drugs" are equal, just as all homeless fit the stories that you have made up in the past...